Luke 6:31-36
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
As we continue to explore Jesus’ teaching on relationships in God’s Kingdom, read Luke 6:31-36 pausing to reflect on anything that catches your attention.
The general rule of the marketplace is reciprocity – you give me a service, product, or goods, and I give you money, or in other words, “Do for others in exchange for what they do for you.” It’s not an entirely evil system, but it isn’t God’s ultimate dream for humanity.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, people are motivated to give to others out of pure generosity. In God’s Kingdom everyone gives love, good deeds, and material possessions without expecting anything in return, and as a result, everyone has plenty.
Take a moment to imagine a world in which this kind of pure generosity is the norm. Notice any feelings that arise as you contemplate the effects of giving without expecting anything in return. Share your thoughts and feelings with Jesus openly.
Read Luke 6:31-36 again.
The Greek word translated “compassionate” in this passage means much more than just warm and sympathetic feelings toward another person. God’s compassion is an ocean of mercy. Because God looks beyond the obvious, God sees people for who they were meant to be, and because God is love, God’s compassion is a deep yearning for restoration and relationship.
The only way to exercise pure generosity is to see people like Jesus sees people – beneath the surface and through the eyes of love.
For the last minutes of this time of reflection, get quiet and contemplate the ideas of pure generosity, mercy, and compassion. Consider how you tend to “see” people. Do you focus on outward behavior, or are you consistently trying to discern what’s beneath the behavior?
Take some time to allow Jesus to speak to you about all of this.
Is there anything in particular that Jesus is asking you to change or do today?
Will you?
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